Jack or device for spreading cables and the like.



G. R. MORRIS.

JACK 0R DEVICE FOR SPREADING CABLES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIC'ATlON FILED IAN. 8| 1915.

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GEORGE RALPH MORRIS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

JACK OR DEVICE FOR SPREADING CABLES AN D THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June, 1917.

Application filed January 8, 1915. Serial N o. 1,131.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Gnonon RALPH Mon- Ris, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buifalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Jacks or Devices for Spreading Cables and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to jacks or devices such as are used for separating or spreading apart electrical cables which are laid in a pile or stack, in order to afford access to a particular cable in the pile when this is necessary for any reason, as for making or repairing the connections between the electrical conductors and the switch jacks on a 'telephone switch board.

The cables containing the multiple conductors for the multiple 'jacks on a telephone switch board are ordinarily arranged in a pile or stack in rear of the switch board, andthis pile usually contains a large number of cables arranged in a multiplicity of horizontal rows or layers located one upon the other. When it is desired to reach a particular cable in the body or rear portion ofthe pile, it is necessary to lift the cables in the pile above the row in which the desired cable is located. Jacks or devices for spreading the cables for this purpose have been heretofore used. One form of jack consists of a solid bar or wedge which is adapted to be forced in between two horizontal rows of cables. This jack is objectionable in use in that if it has suilicient vertical width `to give the desired space between the cables, considerable exertion is required to force it into place between the cables or otherwise manipulate it to separate the layers of cables. Furthermore, when the jack is in place between two horizontal rows of cables it bears on the underlying row of cables and the cables above bear on the jack, so that the cable which it is desired to reach is not relieved from the weight of the cables in the pile above it and it is difficult to shift or manipulate the cable to the best advantage. Other jacks or devices have been made having a pair of spreading members adapted to beA forced in between two rows of cables and then forced apart to spread the cables. These devices as heretofore made are objectionable in that the means for forcing apart the spreading members are located between the spreading members so as not to leave an unobstructed working space between the members in which the operator can manipulate the cable.

The object of this invention is to provide a jack or device for the purpose indicated which is of simple and inexpensive construction, and which can be easily and quickly placed in position and actuated to spread the cables, and the spreading members of which are adapted to be placed respectively above and below the horizontal row of cables containing the cable that it is desired to reach so as to leave this cable in an unobstructed space between the spreading members ofthe jack and free from the weight of the cables above and of the jack, so that the cable can be freely moved and manipulated.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a sectional perspective View, showing a jack or device embodying the invention and illustrating the use of the same for spreading cables.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the pile of cables with the jack in place.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary-sectional elevation of the jack. v

Fig. a is a sectional plan view in line l-l, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating the manner of shoving the upper bar or member into place on the lower bar or member. f

The jack or device comprises two bars or members A and B which are adapted to be shoved into place, one above'y and one below one of the horizontal rows of cables, and a screw or device C for spreading or forcing apart the bars or members for lifting the cables which bear upon the upper bar or member. As illustrated vin the drawings, each of the members A and Br consists of a flat, relatively thin metal bar provided with a beveled or pointed inner or rear end a adapting it to be readily shoved in between two horizontalfrows ofthe cables. Preferably, the pointedend ofthe bar is slightly beveled at its underside as well as above to prevent it from injuring the covering of the cables in therow on which the bar bears and slides when shoving it into the pile. The spreading screw C bears on or isrotatably supported at its lower endbyy the front or outer end of the lower bar or member A and has a screwthreaded engagement with a nut or block D which is connected to or supports the front or outer end yof the upper bar or member B. Preferably, the lower end of the screw simply bears in a confiningv and the screw passes through a hole c inV the front or outer end of the upper bar or pmu member B, which hole is large enough to permit the upper member to swing to an increasing angularity to the screw during the movement of the member by the screw. The screw is provided with a removable cross bar c2, or a handle of any other suitable kind for turning it. The nut or block D, as shown,

bears at its upper end against the under side of the upper bar or member B and is detachablyl connected thereto, preferably by a bracket E depending from the bar or member B and a stud c on the nut which is removably retained in a hole e in the bracket E, as by a washer or plate f secured to the end of the stud by a screw f. The hole in the upper bar or member B and the connection between the nut D and this bar or member are such as to permit the nut and screw to Vtilt relative to the bar and allow the spreading screw to retain an upright position as the bars are spread apart by the rotation of the screw, and the angularity of the upper bar or member relative to the screw and the lower bar or member changes. The described connection of the nut Vwith the bary or member B enables the ready disconnection of the parts, andthe bar rests on the top of the nut and is not weakened by the connection. Manifestly, however,

s the nut D could be connected with the upper bar or member in any other suitable manner which would hold the nut from turning and permit the operation of the screw for spreading the bars or members. 1t is also obvious that the jack could be used in an inverted position or the nut orl screw connection be provided between the screw C and the lower bar or member instead of the upper one.

The lower end of the nut D is preferably inclined, as indicated at G, and the outer end g of the lower bar or member A beveled, as shown, so that yafter the lower bar has been pushed into place in the pile of cables, the upper bar can be pushed into the space between two rows of cables and the nut or block D caused to slide up on the front or outer end of the lower bar when the nut strikes the beveled end of the lower bar or member. rlhis facilitates the placing of the bars or members in position. Y

In the use of the jack or device the lower bar or member A is shoved into yplace below the horizontal row of cables in which' the cable to be reached is located, and the upper bar or member B is forced into the space between this row of cables and the next row above. When the bars have been shoved fully into place in the pile of cables,

Vor front ends of the bars or members.

the lower end of the screw C is seated in the socket c in the lower bar or member and the screw operated to spread apart the oiiltpr 'le bars or members A and B are long enough to extend completely through or beyond the pile of cables, and when the screw is operated to spread the bars or members the inner end of the upper bar will 'fulcrum upon the proj ecting inner end of the lower bar. The weight of the cables above the upper bar or memberB will therefore rest upon this bar or member and the weight' of these` cables will be supported by the lower bar through the medium of the engaging inner ends of the bars and the screwk C, thus leaving the horizontal row of cablesy in whichthe desired cableis located in the space between the two bars, free from the weight of the cables above or of the bearing of the jack or spreading device thereon. The row of cables between the two bars or members of the jack is therefore left entirely free and any one of the cables in this row can be reached and shifted or be manipulated as may be necessary or most convenient for the workman. There are no parts between the spreading bars or members A andV B which in any wise interfere with this` free movement and manipulation yof thecables in the row between 'the two bars or members.

I claim as my invention:

l. In fa jack for spreading objects arranged in a pile, the combination of two members adapted to be inserted endwise one` below and one above one or more of the objects in the pile, said members being adapted to bear one on the other at the inner ends thereof which are inserted into the pile, and a device which is located at the outer ends of said members and is movable while retained at the outer ends of said members for spreading f said outer ends apart, whereby the movement of the spreading device is not obstructed by the objects between said members, there being no connection between said members other than the spreading device at their outer ends. Y

2. 1n a Y jack for spreading Vobjects arranged in a pile, the combination of two Vmembers adapted to beV inserted endwise at opposite sides of'one or moreof the objects in the pile, said members being adapted to bear Vone on the other at the inner ends thereof which are inserted into the pile, and a Vscrew which engagesone of said members andv has a screw connection with the other member at the outer ends of said members lfor spreading said youter ends apart, ,there being no connection between said members .otherY than the spreading vdevice at their outer ends.

3. In a Yjack for spreading objects arranged in pile, the Vcombination of two bars adapted to be shoved endwise into rplace on opposite sides of one or more of the objects in the pile, said bars being adapted to bear one on the other at the inner ends thereof Which are inserted into the pile, and a screw which has a serevvthreaded connection With one of said bars and removably bears on the other bar for forcing said bars apart, said bars being disconnected and adapted to be placed in position and removed separately.

4l. In a jack for spreading objects arranged in a pile, the combination of two members adapted to be inserted at opposite sides of one or more of the objects in the pile, said members being adapted to bear one on the other at one end, a screw which engages one of said members, and a nut having a screwthreaded engagement with said screw and engaging said other member, said nut being adapted to bear and slide onto the end of said rst member and onegof said cooperating bearing parts being beveled.

Witness my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE RALPH MORRIS. Witnesses:

C. W. PARKER, A. L. MCGEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtomil). C. 

